SNK brings us something different and indispensable for the fighting genre with Samurai Shodown
Patch prints for Xbox Series X
Following the recent optimization patch for next-gen consoles, we’re going to be reviewing the new Samurai Shodown skins on Xbox Series X. SNK has released a free update for new consoles and is taking advantage of smart delivery which we talk a lot. functionality (and for the better) these days.
The first thing is that all you have to do, those of you who own the game and one of the new Next-gen consoles, is update it, and the previously saved games will be automatically transferred. . Speaking of current affairs, load times are fleeting, only held back by research by opponents online.
The game looks better, but what’s striking is the added smoothness of 120 FPS support (for those with a monitor or TV to move them around) for much smoother combat. In my case it’s kept at 60 FPS which isn’t bad either and generally an audiovisual improvement that makes this great and different fighting title a bit more.
Here we leave it to you original analysis
In 1993, SNK was the queen of fighting games, still courtesy of Capcom and its legendary Street Fighter II, but with Samurai Shodown they wanted something different from everything there was. Extrapolating to the present tense, we’re in a really good time for this genre, but they all have something in common, the chained combos and the frenzy.
Are courageous those of SNK Corporation they wanted to do something different and precisely necessary. A quieter title, slow even according to what eyes, but brutally devastating when it comes to playing. Thus, against the tide of what the generation offers with titles like the great Killer instinct Xbox One, rightly rewarded by the press and users Dragon ball fighterz and the Tekken and the company, Haohmaru and his companions ask to enter the genre with a combat system that will delight players.
I have to admit that far from Soul Calibur, from the generation of Sony Playstation, to the last generation of Xbox 360, I have stayed away from fighting games. Stringing together endless combos, counterattacking and being invaded onscreen by thousands of numbers didn’t suit me. It’s nice to play games with friends, but to be honest I got bored immediately. With this new opus, which is a kind of reboot, SNK has pampered above all, the DNA of this franchise; it’s nothing but like his devastating blows.
And because I say this; Well, because with 3 or 4 hits in good condition you can make the enemy health bar almost completely disappear. Therefore, we need to think carefully about when and how to attack, because success or failure will depend entirely on our strategy. We have four types of blows with swords, rapiers and other weapons. Light, medium and strong cut and kick that can guarantee to surprise the rival, but without removing much damage. The mechanics are similar to the other deliveries, depending on which button we use, it will be the power, speed or distance of our shots, and that is also the strategy. In addition, by combining certain buttons, we can use devastating attacks, make grabs (which only serve to break the rival guard and gain position).
“In a good defense is the best attack – the effectiveness of the iai position of Kenjutsu”
Speaking of attacks, in addition to simple attacks, we have the typical movements of the scoreboard, running towards the opponent, cover (very important in the game), jump and to dodge (a very useful tool to surprise). In defense is the best attack, honoring the philosophy of the samurai, the efficiency of the iai posture of Kenjutsu, for example Ukyo with the perfect guard of the “aimed sword”. Patience comes at a price, even if it is also respect for the rival, because in a few blows we are dead.
So if we cover ourselves at the right time we will gain an advantage, if we do it with a key combination we will perform a parry or just defense, that’s when our opponent will really be at our mercy. We can also disarm the rival, either by a special move or during the clash of swords, which we have already seen in previous installments. Very important here is also the bar Fury, that when charged we will do more damage, we can use the attack of disarm (which empties the enemy’s health bar in an absurdly bulky way) dropping the opponent’s sword onto the stage. Without a sword we are practically naked, and although some moves can be performed, we will do little damage, but we can also disarm the opponent in this state, blocking our opponent’s sword with our bare hands.
Continuing with the Fury, it helps us do more damage or disarm, as I said before, but there is a special attack, which we can only perform once per game, via the explosion of fury and pressing the left trigger (Issen) at the right time, accompanied by an almost theatrical and dark animation worthy of the best Samurai Anime. Bleeding in the enemy’s health bar is very high, almost ending it, thus being a good resource for winning fights. Once we use it, it won’t be available in other towers anymore, so use it well.
But the star inside the special attacks is the Super special move, which we can use at any time, but only once per game. Its effect is so devastating, and its animation is so polished, that it is a joy to be able to link this blow to the opponent and to see how the color red floods its vitality bar. Like all special techniques, it is specified by each fighter, and it is not excessively difficult to perform. For those who are more accustomed to this type of game, any combination will ring a bell, which are directly inspired by classics like SFII, so learning them will be easy, but mastering the moment of performing them, there is the beauty of Samurai Shodown .
Little more to say about the gameplay, just detail the different game modes available, such as the Against, either online or in local mode, tournament mode, survival, time trial and of course, the historical fashion. As for the internet, as many of you know and if not, I’m going to leave it here, it’s not my thing. But with the lack of balancing of some fighters, such as Yoshitora, Online works just fine.
Story mode is simple, challenging, and motivates you to improve. Do not trust, because the fight will not be easy, and in addition the final boss Shizuka
But stop, we haven’t talked about the characters. There will be 16 in total, plus some that will be associated with the Season Pass, which is free if we buy the game before June 30. There are classics like Haohmaru, Genjuro, Hanzo, Galford, Earthquake or the always elegant and deadly Charlotte, Ukyo, Kenshiro, Jubei, Yoshitora, Nakoruru and Tam Tam, as well as new faces like Darli, Shiki or the crow Yashamaru or Wu- Ruixiang. In the season pass, we will find these fighters: Rimoruru, Basara, Kazama and Wan-Fu. All these fighters have, in addition to an exquisite design, their own personality and a set of techniques seasoned with a different style of play. You can therefore choose one or more characters, because variety is guaranteed.
And speaking of exquisite design, what they achieved with this episode is something commendable, with classic cherry blossom petals falling, samurai duels befitting Kurosawa himself, and dreamy places to live. battles hard to forget. Graphically, with a current style but as if he had finished with stylish lines in every movement, with live scenes that recreate those already seen before, with lighting that highlights every corner.
But what more could you ask for? Well yes, a soundtrack that connects in every way to samurai culture, evoking legendary confrontations full of honor and beauty in this sword dance, powerful cuts and blood spilled in an exchange of spectacular cuts. The sound, saving some classics, presents many nuances depending on the weapon with which one strikes, which does more than increase the immersion in this Samurai universe. The voices in Japanese (I couldn’t find a better language) are a delight, bordering on perfection recounting the battles between freighter and freighter, presenting characters or that Ipon of the winner that we love so much to hear. But don’t worry, the text is entirely in Spanish.
In conclusion, Samurai Shodown offers us something very different from what we find on the current market, which rewards the player for his patience, measuring the distance well and attacking or defending at the right time. A title that perfectly conveys the Japanese samurai culture with exquisite decor and designs that will delight fans, and gameplay that will make you want more and more.
